Trade unions in Argentina
Encyclopedia
Trade unions in Argentina have traditionally played a strong role in the politics of the nation. The largest trade union
association, the Confederación General del Trabajo
has been a force since the 1930s, and approximately 40% of workers in the formal economy are unionized.
(FORA) was created in 1901. It split in 1915 between the FORA IX (of the Ninth Congress) and the FORA V (of the 5th Congress), the latter supporting an anarcho-syndicalist stance. In January 1919, the FORA notably called for demonstrations after police repression, during the Tragic Week
, while it latter organized protests in Patagonia
, which led to harsh repression by Hipólito Yrigoyen
's administration (the disturbs were known as Patagonia rebelde
).
Following the 1917 October Revolution
in Russia and the founding of the Profintern
, the Argentine Syndicates' Union (USA) was created in March 1922. Although more radical than FORA IX, the USA did not join the Profintern and remained independent from any international affiliation. Meanwhile, the FORA V was in steady decline, and was dissolved shortly before the installation of José Félix Uriburu
's dictatorship, which opened up the years of the Infamous Decade
.
, the Unión Sindical Argentina (USA, anarcho-syndicalist) and the FORA V
, dissolved by Uriburu. On 20 September 1930, the COA and the USA merged in the General Confederation of Labour
(CGT), although the two rival tendencies remained. The syndicalist current, however, became discredit, supporting alliance with the government in order to reach social advances, while the socialist current proposed open opposition tied to political support to the Socialist party. The syndicalist current was in particular affected by its agreements with the pro-fascist governor of Buenos Aires, Manuel Fresco .
Although the Great Depression
and the subsequent rural exodus
had brought many politically unexperimented workers to Buenos Aires
, the spontaneous import substitution industrialization enabled, starting in 1935 , coupled to the strengthening of trade unions, enabled wages' increase . Henceforth, a 48 hours general strike
was launched in January 1936 by workers' in construction, during which 3 workers and 3 policemen were killed .
.
As president, Perón consolidated both his power over the union movement (edging out and suppressing for instance unionists from anarchist tradition) and his power over the country by establishing a corporatist alliance with organized labor.
When in his turn Perón was overthrown and forced into exile (in 1955), the CGT
leadership was purged, but even so the union movement remained the basis for semi-coordinated resistance to the series of governments that succeeded Peronism during the 1950s and 1960s. With the election of Augusto Vandor
to the CGT leadership in 1962, unions became more conciliatory and integrated into the system. From exile, Perón fought against this tendency (which become known as Vandorism), attempting to keep open the possibility of his eventual return. He therefore began to encourage more radical tendencies within the Peronist movement.
Hence during the 1960s and early 1970s, Peronism was split between a wing associated with the union movement on the one hand, and on the other hand a more radical wing inspired by third worldism and Guevarism
and led by the Peronist Youth (Juventud Peronista). Upon the General's return to Argentina, this split became violent, as symbolized above all by the massacre at Ezeiza
the day of his arrival back in the country.
Over the course of the next few months, Perón sided with the unions rather than with the youth, whose armed groups were increasingly targeted by the regime that they themselves supported. After Perón's death and with the accession of his wife Isabel Martínez de Perón
to the presidency, this persecution only increased, and Argentine society headed towards open civil war
in which a union-backed power directed in part by José López Rega
faced increased militancy on the part of the Montoneros
and others.
With the onset of the military regime that overthrew Isabel Perón in 1976, trade unions were themselves also violently suppressed. However, they again demonstrated their strength with general strikes and demonstrations during the lead-up to the restoration of civilian government in 1983.
workers' right to strike is protected by law, but unauthorized demonstrations have involved direct conflict with police in recent years.
Argentina's relatively inflexible labour market has been cited as a component of the country's high unemployment problem, and in the 1990s the government struggled to introduce labour laws which, among other things, would reduce the ability to bargain collectively above the enterprise
level, and increase labour market flexibility. These changes were strongly opposed by the unions, including two general strikes in 1996. By 1998 measures agreed to by both sides had been passed, with industry-wide bargaining intact, and the removal of the temporary contract system which had allowed for workers with no social benefits.
Additional labour reforms were passed in 2004.
The union movement was weakened under the neoliberal conditions imposed first by the military junta and later reinforced by Carlos Menem
(ironically, a Peronist) and his minister of finance, Domingo Cavallo
. Arguably, the protagonism of popular struggle has now passed to other movements, such as the unemployed piqueteros, who were much more prominent during the protests and crisis of 2001 and 2002.
Still, the heritage of Argentina's long history of labor organization remains important to this day.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
association, the Confederación General del Trabajo
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
has been a force since the 1930s, and approximately 40% of workers in the formal economy are unionized.
The FORA
The Argentine Regional Workers' FederationArgentine Regional Workers' Federation
The Argentine Regional Workers' Federation , founded in 1901, was Argentina's first national labor confederation...
(FORA) was created in 1901. It split in 1915 between the FORA IX (of the Ninth Congress) and the FORA V (of the 5th Congress), the latter supporting an anarcho-syndicalist stance. In January 1919, the FORA notably called for demonstrations after police repression, during the Tragic Week
Tragic Week (Argentina)
Tragic Week was a series of riots and massacres that took place in Buenos Aires, during the week of January 7, 1919. The riot was led by anarchists and communists, and was fought by both the police and the army...
, while it latter organized protests in Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, which led to harsh repression by Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
's administration (the disturbs were known as Patagonia rebelde
Patagonia rebelde
Patagonia rebelde was a violent suppression of a rural worker's strike in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz in Argentine Patagonia between 1921 and 1922. The uprising was put down by Colonel Héctor Benigno Varela's 10th Cavalry Regiment of the Argentine Army under the orders of Hipólito Yrigoyen...
).
Following the 1917 October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in Russia and the founding of the Profintern
Profintern
The Red International of Labor Unions , commonly known as the Profintern, was an international body established by the Communist International with the aim of coordinating Communist activities within trade unions...
, the Argentine Syndicates' Union (USA) was created in March 1922. Although more radical than FORA IX, the USA did not join the Profintern and remained independent from any international affiliation. Meanwhile, the FORA V was in steady decline, and was dissolved shortly before the installation of José Félix Uriburu
José Félix Uriburu
General José Félix Benito Uriburu y Uriburu was the first de facto President of Argentina, achieved through a military coup, from September 6, 1930 to February 20, 1932.-Biography:...
's dictatorship, which opened up the years of the Infamous Decade
Infamous Decade
The Infamous Decade in Argentina is the name given to the period of time that started in 1930 with the coup d'état against President Hipólito Yrigoyen by José Félix Uriburu...
.
The Infamous Decade
At the time of the 1930 coup, three trade unions existed in Argentina: the Confederación Obrera Argentina (COA, founded in 1926 and linked to the Socialist PartySocialist Party (Argentina)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Argentina. The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus....
, the Unión Sindical Argentina (USA, anarcho-syndicalist) and the FORA V
Argentine Regional Workers' Federation
The Argentine Regional Workers' Federation , founded in 1901, was Argentina's first national labor confederation...
, dissolved by Uriburu. On 20 September 1930, the COA and the USA merged in the General Confederation of Labour
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
(CGT), although the two rival tendencies remained. The syndicalist current, however, became discredit, supporting alliance with the government in order to reach social advances, while the socialist current proposed open opposition tied to political support to the Socialist party. The syndicalist current was in particular affected by its agreements with the pro-fascist governor of Buenos Aires, Manuel Fresco .
Although the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the subsequent rural exodus
Rural exodus
Rural flight is a term used to describe the migratory patterns of peoples from rural areas into urban areas.In modern times, it often occurs in a region following the industrialization of agriculture when fewer people are needed to bring the same amount of agricultural output to market and related...
had brought many politically unexperimented workers to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, the spontaneous import substitution industrialization enabled, starting in 1935 , coupled to the strengthening of trade unions, enabled wages' increase . Henceforth, a 48 hours general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
was launched in January 1936 by workers' in construction, during which 3 workers and 3 policemen were killed .
Unions and Perón
As secretary of labor under the military regime that came to power in 1943, Colonel Juan Domingo Perón courted the unions and working class and by doing so established a power base that threatened the government. As a result, Perón was demoted and imprisoned, but the unions showed their strength in a multitudinous demonstration on October 17, 1945 that effectively propelled Perón towards the presidencyPresident of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
.
As president, Perón consolidated both his power over the union movement (edging out and suppressing for instance unionists from anarchist tradition) and his power over the country by establishing a corporatist alliance with organized labor.
When in his turn Perón was overthrown and forced into exile (in 1955), the CGT
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
leadership was purged, but even so the union movement remained the basis for semi-coordinated resistance to the series of governments that succeeded Peronism during the 1950s and 1960s. With the election of Augusto Vandor
Augusto Vandor
Augusto Timoteo Vandor was an Argentine trade unionist leader, military and politician.-Career:Vandor was born Bovril, Entre Ríos Province, to a Dutch father and a French mother, in 1923. He enlisted in the Argentine Navy in 1940, and later became an officer in the ARA Comodoro Py warship...
to the CGT leadership in 1962, unions became more conciliatory and integrated into the system. From exile, Perón fought against this tendency (which become known as Vandorism), attempting to keep open the possibility of his eventual return. He therefore began to encourage more radical tendencies within the Peronist movement.
Hence during the 1960s and early 1970s, Peronism was split between a wing associated with the union movement on the one hand, and on the other hand a more radical wing inspired by third worldism and Guevarism
Guevarism
Guevarism is a theory of communist revolution and a military strategy of guerrilla warfare associated with Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, one of the leading figures of the Cuban Revolution...
and led by the Peronist Youth (Juventud Peronista). Upon the General's return to Argentina, this split became violent, as symbolized above all by the massacre at Ezeiza
1973 Ezeiza massacre
The Ezeiza massacre took place on June 20, 1973 near the Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Peronist masses, including many young people, had gathered there to acclaim Juan Perón's definitive return from an 18-year exile in Spain. The police counted three and a half million...
the day of his arrival back in the country.
Over the course of the next few months, Perón sided with the unions rather than with the youth, whose armed groups were increasingly targeted by the regime that they themselves supported. After Perón's death and with the accession of his wife Isabel Martínez de Perón
Isabel Martínez de Perón
María Estela Martínez Cartas de Perón , better known as Isabel Martínez de Perón or Isabel Perón, is a former President of Argentina. She was also the third wife of another former President, Juan Perón...
to the presidency, this persecution only increased, and Argentine society headed towards open civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
in which a union-backed power directed in part by José López Rega
José López Rega
José López Rega was Argentina's Minister of Social Welfare during the Peronist government started in 1973 by Juan Perón and continued after Perón's death in 1974 by his third wife and vice-president, Isabel Martínez de Perón , until the coup d'etat of 1976 that initiated the so-called National...
faced increased militancy on the part of the Montoneros
Montoneros
Montoneros was an Argentine Peronist urban guerrilla group, active during the 1960s and 1970s. The name is an allusion to 19th century Argentinian history. After Juan Perón's return from 18 years of exile and the 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which marked the definitive split between left and right-wing...
and others.
With the onset of the military regime that overthrew Isabel Perón in 1976, trade unions were themselves also violently suppressed. However, they again demonstrated their strength with general strikes and demonstrations during the lead-up to the restoration of civilian government in 1983.
Unions today
ArgentineArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
workers' right to strike is protected by law, but unauthorized demonstrations have involved direct conflict with police in recent years.
Argentina's relatively inflexible labour market has been cited as a component of the country's high unemployment problem, and in the 1990s the government struggled to introduce labour laws which, among other things, would reduce the ability to bargain collectively above the enterprise
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
level, and increase labour market flexibility. These changes were strongly opposed by the unions, including two general strikes in 1996. By 1998 measures agreed to by both sides had been passed, with industry-wide bargaining intact, and the removal of the temporary contract system which had allowed for workers with no social benefits.
Additional labour reforms were passed in 2004.
The union movement was weakened under the neoliberal conditions imposed first by the military junta and later reinforced by Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
(ironically, a Peronist) and his minister of finance, Domingo Cavallo
Domingo Cavallo
Domingo Felipe "Mingo" Cavallo is an Argentine economist and politician. He has a long history of public service and is known for implementing the Convertibilidad plan, which fixed the dollar-peso exchange rate at 1:1 between 1991 and 2001, which brought the Argentine inflation rate down from over...
. Arguably, the protagonism of popular struggle has now passed to other movements, such as the unemployed piqueteros, who were much more prominent during the protests and crisis of 2001 and 2002.
Still, the heritage of Argentina's long history of labor organization remains important to this day.